Shock absorber



Jan. 12, 1932. L, R,-GRU$5 y 1,841,287

sHocK ABsoRBER Filed April 12, 1930 l y Q @f4 .3 ze) zc l l 52 I 3;', Il c 45 Il 31 34 l A8 1 No q. I r' Patented Jan. 12, 1932v 'PATENT OFFICE LUcEN n. Gauss, or CLEVELAND, onIo snoex ABSOBBER nppliatibn mea April "12,

This invention relatesito shock absorbers and particularly-to shock absorbers for vehicles, the device being of the pneumatic type A 6 The obj ect of the invention is to provide an improved pneumatic shock absorber characterized particularly by means for mamtaining the pressure in the compression chamber of the device at a suitable orv de- 1.0` sired amount, and which willprovide a shock absorber freefrom sudden op irregular movements o'r jerks. The desired pressure is maintained automatically by the operation of the device. l

In the form shown a 'duplex absorber appears, one unit being especially active on the compression of the vehicle` spring'and the other on the rebound.

In the form illustrated, Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the device. Fig. 2 is a similar viewY with the parts in diferent position. This ligure also shows a modified form of gland in one of the units. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a piston head. Fig.I 4 is a 25 detail in section of the modified gland shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1. I

In the drawings, 1 indicates a side frame of a vehicle and 20 is the axle thereof. The shock absorber casing consists of a pair of guides 2, cylindrical base 2a fastened to the frame by ears 3 and bolts 4, with a cover 5 secured by bolts 6 and having an oil plug 8 yif Vdesired. The axle 20 receives a pair of clamps' 18 which are connected to a link 13 by a pivot 15 securedbetween the branches 16 ofthe clips 18 by bolts 21. This pivotalconnection 40; permits a certain amount of vibration of movement of the axle without operating the shock absorber. The link 16 is pivotally con-V nected to the lower end of a rod l1 connected by a turnbuckle 12, for adjustment, to a rod 10, whichris connected to the outer end of a lever 9 fastened on a stud shaft 23- which projects into the side of the casing and has a rocker 22 the opposite ends of which are connected by pivots 28 and 'links 30 to the upper ends of a pair of cylinders 26, which the purpose of which is to trap or hold a certain amount of compressed air under the Yand the two heads 39 and 47.

1930. serial No. 443,815.

moveup and down in opposite directions as the shock absorber functions.

The units are similar, and a description of one will answer for both. The cylinder 26 is hollow as shown, and is closed at the lower` 55 end by a cylinder head 32 which is tapped to receive a packing gland 33 through which works a piston rod 34. Fixed to the upper end of this rod, inside the cylinder 26, is a piston 3 9 provided with a cup leather 38 se- 60 curedunder a washer 43 and'nut 44.

The under side of the piston 39 is concaved or cupped as shown at 40, to form a recess,

piston, as will be hereinafter described. The cup leather 38 is presented upwardly so that air may leakaround it on the upward movement of the cylinder 26 but will be sealed on the downward movement.

At a distance below the piston head 32, the rod 34 is provided at its lower end with a piston head-47, having an upwardly presented cup leather 46 under a washer 48, and this piston works in the cylindrical end 2a of the guide 2. The rod 34 is provided with a long-if tudinal bore or passage terminating in upper land lower ports 36 and 37, the former of .under side of the head 32 and the piston 39. The'lower port 37 is at all times in communication with the chamber between the head 5 32 and =the lower piston 47.

The modified form of gland shown at the right hand unit in Fig. 2, and in Fig. 4, consists of a cylinder' head 51 containing cup leather '52 pressedI against the rod 34 by a coil spring 53 and ascrew ring 54 tapped into the cylinder head. This is merely an optional form which may be substituted for the ordinary cylinder'head 32.

A coiled spring 45 is placed between the )95 piston. head 32 and the cup leather 46, and maybe used if necessary, to assist the motion of the ioating piston comprising the'rod 34 In operation, it will be seen that by the construction described three chambers are reduced, a .maincompression chamber A tween the upper head of the oating pis- A ton and the top of the. hollow cylinder a site cylinder 26, as 'shown in Fig. 2. The 'effect of this is to compress the air under the left hand. cylinder 26, and when the piston head 47 reaches the bottom of the cylinder 2 the movement of the floating piston stops andthe air' in the chamber A is compressed to form an elastic cushion for the movement, the air being trapped in the chamber A by the cup leather 38. The chamber B thus be- Aa certain amount of air will be retained 'in vcomes a. vacuum chamber luntil the port 36 is uncovered which breaks the vacuum and permits air (and any entrained oil) to flow from the chamber C through the. passage in the pistonV rod to the chamber B. At the same time the upward movement of the right hand cylinder 26 causes the air in the cham,- ber-B on that side to leakv around the piston 39 and into the chamber A on that side, provided however that the air in the chamber A is at a lower pressure thanthat in the chamber B. The vacuum produced under the cylinder head 47 tends to produce this action of the floating piston, and it may be assisted by the pressure of the spring 45. In any event -piston. caus the port 36 to be closed and so cuts off the chamber B from thev chamber C.

In effect the relative movement of the cylinders and p uces a pumping action the e 'ect of which is to keep the chamber A supplied with air at a certain pressure. premura may be varied by variation 1n the location of the transfer port-36 up or. down, whereby it will be uncovered sooner or later, and also by the relative size of the hol-Y low 40 in theplston head 39, the degree 'of pressure being variable` or measured b the'v location of the Ytransfer port andthe size of the hollow under the piston head 39. Thus the shock .absorber may be constructed in the details according to 'the weight to be carried or other local conditions. Hence a very eicientfshock absorber is produced;A

Whenthe' main springvof the vehicle is compressed andthe frame approaches the r axle the operation of the respective pistons is reversed, but in either eventV a predetermined supply or pressure of air is maintained 1n the compression chamber A, and the pressure sedetermined will not be exceeded)` becylinder having a. head, working in each,

guide, a rock-shaft connected to the respective cylinders to operate the same in alternately opposite directions, a oating piston comprising a rod working through said cylinder head, having heads at its opposite ends, one head working inthe hollow cylinder and the other head Working in the guide beyond i a the head ofthe hollow cylinder, and-means controlled by movement of the Heating piston to transfer air pressure from the guide to the space within theA hollow cylinder.

2. In a shock absorber, the combination of a main guide, a `hollow cylinder having a head, working in saidvguide, a floating piston comprising a rod workingthrough said head, and a head on each end of the rod, one

head working in the hollow cylinder and the other head working in the guide beyond the head of the hollow cylinder,A the rod having an air passage controlled by its movements to connect the space in the hollow cylinder with the space in the guide.

3. In a shock absorber, the combination stated in claim 2, the head working in the hollowcylinder having a recess on the side thereof adjacent the head of the cylinder.

4. In a shock absorber, the combination Aof a pair of guides, a pair of connected alternately-acting reciprocating Icylinders in said guides, each cylinder being hollow and having a head with a` gland therein, a pistonrod working throughsaid gland, a piston on each end of therod, one working in the hollow of the cylinder and the other working in the guide, the said rod having a paage extendL ing to connectfchambers on opposite sides of said gland, the outlet of said passage into the Ahollow cylinder being covered and uncovered by the gland as the cylinder reciprocates.

5. The combination stated in claim 4, the l piston which works in the hollow of the cylmderhaving a concave face on the side toward the gland. Y

6. The combination stated in claim 4, the

pistons on the ends of the said piston rod having cup-.leathers sealing compression chambers one way in the guide and the hollow cylinder respectively. i 7. Ina pneumatic shock absorber, the com bination of a guide, a hollow cylinder working therein, an inner piston in the hollow cylinder, forming a compression chamber and a transfer chamber in the cylinder, a rod extending-from said inner piston through the head of thecylinder, an outer piston on the opposite end of the rod, forming a compression chamber in the guide between the head of the cylinder and the said outer piston, and

a passage through the` rod, connecting the transfer chamber and the last mentioned compression chamber at times.

8. The combination stated in claim 7, said passagel being normally sealed but opened by inward movement of the piston rod.

9. The combination stated in claim 7, and an expansion spring between the head of the cylinder and said outer piston.

10. In a pneumatic shock absorber, the

combination of a guide, a hollow cylinder 12. In a pneumatic shock absorber, the

combination of a guide, a hollow cylinder reciprocating therein, said hollow forming an inner compression chamber, a piston in 'said compression chamber, said guide and cylinder defining a Dump-chamber, and means controlled by relative movements of the cylinder and piston to transfer air pressure from the.

lpump chamber to the said compression chamer. v

15. The combination stated in claim 12, said means including a transferV chamber between the piston and the head of the hollow cylinder. I

. In testimony whereof, I do 'aix my signature.v LCIEN R. GRUSS. 

